Yellowed Shoes? Can They Be Recolored? How?
When pure-white shoes yellow, recoloring can avoid chemical action that would affect the material. This article notes th...
2026-10-19 09:54Views: 113
What to do when shoes yellow
There are many ways to deal with yellowing.
But if they’re pure white,
I prefer to treat them by recoloring.
That’s because any chemical action will, to some degree, affect the material —
oxidation and reduction, and so on.
The pair in the photo had picked up a pigment-type stain on both sides, which caused the yellowing.
Treating them this way looks clean and natural.
Here’s an example with one side colored and the other not, for comparison.
The circled areas are where colour was applied.
When you apply the colour, be careful not to block the holes —
those are there for breathability.
Points to watch when recoloring
Common questions
How is recoloring usually done?
There are many ways to recolor.
On the market you’ll find acrylic dyes,
as well as water-based and oil-based paints.
For setting the colour there are also satin, gloss and matte finishes.
Each has its strengths, depending on the effect you want.
If you want to colour them yourself, acrylic paints are commonly sold in shops.
Some decorative painting uses those too; or you can leave them with a specialist shoe-cleaning shop,
or with EN Laundry in Taoyuan —
we’re happy to do it for you.
One more thing: shoes are, to a degree, consumable items.
So as not to affect your ankles or joints,
if they’re worn out, it’s better to buy a new pair.
Related Services & Prices
If you'd like these cleaned, here are the prices and pickup & delivery options for this type of item. We quote the final price after checking the garment condition at pickup, and only clean once you agree.
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